I’m experiencing a cooler climate than I have in decades. We relocated to from Southern California to Washington State earlier this year, and let’s just say — I’ve become a firm believer in warm socks, cute rainboots, and the power of a simple hydrating beauty product. These are all things I’ve completely taken for granted in the past, because I just haven’t had to think about it! My life in general has also become a little simpler since we left the hustle and bustle of the city, as has my beauty routine — so that makes finding gems like this one from Edible Beauty Australia a total score.

I’m impressed with the simplicity and pureness of what’s inside this little ceramic pot of goodness right here — their Goddess on the Go Balm. It may be small, but it is mighty — indeed! Just one product instantly solves many of my beauty grievances, and naturally at that.

Edible Beauty is a glorious line of natural beauty solutions out of Australia, with formulas that are clean enough to eat. What that means? You won’t find parabens, sulfates, artificial preservatives, petrochemicals, aluminum, phthalates, animal-derived ingredients, and the potential toxins and chemicals found in some traditional beauty products. Just pure goodness is inside this pot! Luxe and therapeutic, I really love the ethos behind this line.

Look at those healthy, active botanical ingredients…

I use this for so many things!

Dry cuticles

Dry lips

To eliminate frizz on the ends of my hair

Heels of my feet

Eyebrow pomade

On the eczema spot on my eyelid

Anywhere my skin itches

…and more!

I’ll be reaching in my handbag for this all fall and winter, and so will you! You’ll find this little jewel for sale on ediblebeautyaustralia.com for $20.48 USD.

Who else loves October as much as I do? I love it because it’s officially fall, the leaves are changing colors, the air is more brisk, and things just feel more festive since Halloween is around the corner. I also get excited for all of the beauty collections that start launching this time of year — like this fun Halloween nail polish collection from Salon Perfect!

I had some spooky nail fun with four shades from their Wicked Beauty Collection, exclusively at Walmart for $3.98 a shade. There are four other shades in the collection, but these were the ones that stood out to me. I didn’t do a swatch of Glow All Out, but let’s check out the others…

This is Nine Lives, a black with gold shimmer. This is a two-coater with a nice formula, although a little thin on the first coat. There’s a good amount of gold shimmer in this one that makes it special! [Read more…]

Nicki Minaj just teamed up with MAC Cosmetics, again! She collaborated with the global makeup brand on two new pinky-nude hues of lipstick with an Amplified finish. Meet — Nicki’s Nude, and The Pinkprint. From what I understand, this is just the first release of several with the brand she’ll be doing in the near future, based upon the press information I received. I don’t know what those products will be, but I can’t wait to find out!

Nicki’s Nude is a creamy coral-pink, while The Pinkprint is a creamy mid-tone pink. Both are lovely — but I’m pretty taken with Nicki’s Nude. I found that they’re wearing for about four hours, and they definitely don’t dry my lips out — but they’re not super hydrating either. I find that they are both indeed very pigmented. [Read more…]

Earlier this week, I tried something amazing for the first time — it’s the brand new Erno Laszlo White Marble Dual Phase Vitamin C Peel, and whoa. It’s seriously results-driven, and has completely resurfaced my skin. It contains a cocktail of active ingredients to exfoliate, brighten, and hydrate — all in one treatment. It’s been several days since my first session, and still, my skin is super smooth and bright. My foundation is wearing better, and applies much more smoothly. I’m also finding my serums are more readily absorbed into my skin this week. I’m so excited to add this into my skincare regimen as a weekly treatment.

Step one of this dual-phase peel is a little bit of manual exfoliation for 1-3 minutes. Make sure to gently massage into the skin. This will act as a physical skin ‘polisher’. (It’s in a nice hydrating base with a little bit of slip.) Then, you apply step two over step one, which is a lactic acid serum that will slightly warm the skin (totally normal). After a minute, rinse off — and wah-lah! [Read more…]

Sundays and Wednesdays are selfcare nights for me, I always treat myself to a facial mask. I’ve had extremely great results with a few I’ve tried lately! We all like a little bit of instant gratification — especially when it comes to our beauty products! Here are six facial masks that delivered immediate results for me.

HYDRATION

If hydration is your main concern, you’ll likely want to check out this new mask from Erno Laszlo. (Fun fact: Erno Laszlo was Marilyn Monroe’s skincare of choice!) Parched skin was no match for the Hydra-Therapy Skin Vitality Treatment. It’s a fun modeling-like mask. You mix the included serum vial with a powder, stir, and you get a consistency that dries into a rubbery texture that lifts off. It instantly cools and moisturizes while plumping the skin. A little on the spendy-side, so you may wish to reserve for when your skin is in dire need of TLC. It boosted hydration in some DEFCON-1 thirst levels in both mine, and my cousin’s skin! Save a little bit of the serum before mixing, and apply it after you remove the mask for even more hydration benefits.

Many people hear the word “acid” in the skincare world, and automatically become afraid. Maybe you’ve had a bad experience with glycolic or salicylic acid in the past, and they’ve been too strong for you. But there’s another acid out there that’s totally different, and not scary at all — hyaluronic acid. If you’re not using this powerhouse ingredient in your skincare regimen, it’s time. There’s a reason you’re seeing the buzz lately!

Whether your skin is dehydrated, you’re starting to notice overall slackening (think marionette lines, nasolabial folds), or you’re trying to prevent aging (aren’t we all?), hyaluronic acid is going to be your skin’s best friend. With more brisk weather upon us, I can’t think of a better time to try it! While hyaluronic acid is something that’s naturally occurring in your skin, it hits its peak in your 20s, and after 40, it’s really on the decline. You may notice a loss of plumpness, moisture, and rougher texture. That’s where hyaluronic acid comes into play.

In skincare products — think of it as a sponge that can hold up to 1000% times its weight in water that sits on the surface of the skin, and draws in moisture and multiplies it. This results in more firmness, brightness, and a more youthful texture. While you may be overwhelmed by the amount of hyaluronic acid products on the market, I want to help narrow it down for you. I find it works best for me when applied as a serum — as my skin is able to accept it more readily that way. Here are three that I think are really stellar!

This derm-recommended clinically-based hyaluronic serum uses botanical licorice root, and purple rice extract to help preserve the hyaluronic acid content in the skin. When combined with 1.3% hyaluronic acid, these ingredients work in tandem to provide lasting hydration and firmness. I’ve been applying this every morning and night for just over six weeks, and wow. What a difference this has made! Immediately upon application, my skin holds hydration all day, and my skin texture feels smoother.

With continued use, I’m starting to see a small reduction in the depth of my marionette lines and nasolabial folds. I should see even better results at 12 weeks! This features a serum/gel texture that’s lightweight and can be layered under your favorite creams and treatments. This little purple glass bottle makes my skin very happy! If you like clinical skincare that is very results-driven, you’ll want to check out the rest of the Skinceuticals line. A little bit more spendy, but totally worth it.

My inner child is jumping up and down in the aisles at Toys ‘R Us right now, wanting every My Little Pony in sight! China Glaze just released a collection completely devoted to one of my fave 80’s toys, in anticipation of the upcoming My Little Pony movie that will be in theaters in October. Let’s check out the review and swatches!

Every week, I try several new beauty products. Some are big hits, and some are major misses. Here a five products I had to put on your radar — because these were all hits! Each of these are special in their own right, so let’s take a closer look at these products from Origins, Skinfix, Dermalogica, Kate Somerville, and Manuka Doctor…

I recently reintroduced my skin to Origins products after almost a decade, and I didn’t realize how much I was missing them! This slightly tinted and shade adjusting GinZing Tinted Moisturizer gives my skin a healthy glow, a hit of hydration, and a hint of color — all while protecting it with a physical sunscreen. Since the tint is sheer, this should be good for fair-to-medium skintones, and caffeine and ginseng help revitalize the skin — while essential oils brighten my mood. $38, origins.com

As a long-time fan of Kate Somerville’s products (and an ExfoliKate junkie), I’m thrilled that she just launched this moisturizer with glycolic and lactic acid. Not only does this help speed up cellular turnover to remove surface dullness and uneven skin texture — it increases moisture in the skin via hyaluronic acid. (The added papaya, pineapple, and pumpkin enzymes really kick up that exfoliation benefit, too!) This helps me glow, my skin looks brighter and feels softer, and it helps refine my pores. It quickly became a fave in my regimen! This is pretty active — which I’ve come to expect from Kate, so some skin types may need to increase usage of this product over time. (I started with every other day, and worked up from there.) $65, katesomerville.com [Read more…]

When I go to pick up my mail, and I spy that pink and white box for the month — I get excited! The POPSUGAR Must Have Box is like getting several fun full-size gifts a month, expertly curated — and it’s a surprise. My favorite kind!

The June 2017 POPSUGAR Must Have Box has summer all over it — with items for beach and pool days from great name brands. The June box contained over $130 worth of products inside, but retails for just $39.95 as a monthly subscription. Let’s take a closer look at what was inside!

Billabong “Aloha Forever” Trucker Hat

Keep your face out of the harmful rays, while trying out the easy-to-wear trucker hat trend. This sporty cap will have you saying “Aloha” to even more oceanside activities.

Aloha Collection Mid-Size Ocean Coco Palms Pouch

Pack your waterside essentials in this splash-proof pouch. The print will keep you on island time, will protect your snacks, as well as store a wet bathing suit when your fun in the sun is done for the day.

Captain Blankenship Mermaid Sea Salt Hair Spray

Effortlessly style your hair with a sea salt spray that will add waves that even a mermaid would be jealous of! The organic ingredients like aloe vera and sea kelp extract with nourish without making hair feel crunchy.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo — A novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid)

A juicy beach or poolside read! This new book is full of intrigue, emotional twists and turns, and a little glamour.

Belgian Boys Mini Cookie Stash

You need something to snack on, poolside, right? These yummy cookies are the perfect portable snack to take with you on summer adventures. [Read more…]